Villas open at Lantern Crest Senior Living in Santee

High in the hills of Santee overlooking the intersecting freeways of I-8, 125, 67 and 52 are some elegant Mediterranean-style buildings that resemble high-end apartments. In fact, it is Lantern Crest Senior Living, a resort-style retirement community.

Lantern Crest features memory care, assisted living apartments and independent living, both at the Pointe, which opened three years ago, and now at The Villas, the newest addition. At the grand opening of The Villas on November 16, 2017, community residents, businesses and guests enjoyed a full tour and reception of the grandest style.

The Villas are elegant two-bedroom, two-bath one-story homes and either one-car or two-car garages, with a full kitchen and a small rear patio area. All have balconies overlooking the lay of the land in Santee. People who move in to The Villas will have all the amenities Lantern Crest available to them.

Ken Ledgewood, a resident of The Pointe, led a group of interested guess on a tour of the Pointe and Villas. “I was one of the first people to move into the Pointe, up to the fifth floor. I have the greatest view,” he said.

Every residential unit at Lantern Crest has a patio or balcony. The aptly named Sunset Trail is the main road leading up to the assisted living and memory care units. Lantern Crest Road is the brand-new road extending straight out from Graves leading up to the Pointe and The Villas.

Residents are free at any time to use the Veranda Room, perfect for parties, and move the party out to the balcony furnished with tables and chairs. There is also a special brunch offered once a month at the Veranda Room, open to all residents.

A pool with sauna and Jacuzzi is for use to all residents as well.

An unusual feature of Lantern Crest is that dogs have a place of honor. “There are nine dogs here owned by people, and once a month, there is actually a party for the people and their dogs, complete with treats for the dogs and wine for the people,” Ledgewood said.

On the third floor of The Pointe, a Hall of Dogs features portraits and prints of dogs owned by residents. Outside is a dog park. While their dogs frolic in the park, the residents can cook their dinner on a barbecue grill and use the pizza oven.

In addition, a Movie Palace is the elegant and comfortable place for watching films as well as live theater staged by residents and special guests. Residents also have access to a couple of exercise and fitness rooms as well as an elegant library with an English Tea Room. A beauty salon offers a full range of hair and nail services.

“It’s always very busy,” Ledgewood said of the salon. .

In the Activity Room, arts and crafts of all kinds are offered. When Ledgewood stopped in with his tour group, resident Bea Jones was busy putting together Christmas stockings for the Project Midway Museum.

“We do about 100 of these stockings every year,” Jones said. “We always look forward to doing this project.”

“We are very community-minded at Lantern Crest,” explained Ledgewood.

Michael Grant, the man who built Lantern Crest, tending to its development step-by-step, beginning with buying of the property and drawing up the blueprints, stepped out onto the balcony of the model Villa open for viewing.

“The sunset will be great,” Grant said.

“And, look, you can see the Aerospace Museum from here,” he said, pointing to the missile standing tall above the surrounding buildings.

Ledgewood walked out onto the balcony to join Grant.

“You’ve made this place a success,” Ledgewood told Grant.

Grant smiled. “It’s the residents who have done it. I just listen to what they need and want. That’s what matters. I’ll do anything for our parents and grandparents,” Grant said.

The Villas are now ready for move-ins. For more information, call 619-258-8886 or go to www.langerncrestseniorliving.com. The Villas are located at 400 Lantern Crest Way, Santee, CA 92071.

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